Brazil deals new blow to French Rafale sales drive

[HAIDER]

By RFI
France's plans to sell its Rafale fighter jet were dealt another blow when Brazill decided to buy a Swedish-built plane just after President François Hollande visited the country.


Brazil announced on on Wednesday it had chosen the Gripen NG built by Sweden's Saab in a multi-billion-dollar contract for 36 new fighter jets, rather than French firm Dassault's Rafale and US-based Boeing's F/A-18.

The French government yesterday played down its failure to convince Brazil to buy Rafale fighter jets, insisting it still hoping to sell them to India and the Gulf nations.

The move was another blow to the Rafale programme, which has failed to win a single foreign sale after nearly three decades of development that has cost tens of billions of euros.

And negotiations on the Indian sale have dragged out since January 2012, when Delhi chose Dassault for exclusive negotiation, with a decision unlikely before next year's election there.

Rafale is a state-of-the-art fighter but countries make the choice depending on their strategic requirements, French strategy expert Corentin Brustlein told RFI.

Negotiations with Brazil date back to 2009, when then presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Lula da Silva made an agreement in principle on the sale and technology transfer.

But since then Dilma Roussef has replaced da Silva after 2010's election and, although she is a member of his Workers' Party, defence policy has changed slightly with changes at the top of the Brazilain air force.

Massive protests against the cost of the World Cup have led the government to take a closer look at expenses and the five-billion-euro bill for the Rafale proved too much for a country with no special enemies and a history of military dictatorships.

In choosing the Gripen NG, the government chose the smallest, cheapest plane on offer, which is also the easiest to build.

The decision is bad news for Dassault and the 500 companies who would have worked with it but it's also bad news for the French government's attempt to balance its budget, since the sale would have enables it to cancel orders for the French air force.
Brazil deals new blow to French Rafale sales drive - France - Brazil - RFI

 

[waz]

I don't see the Gulf nations going for the jet. The Saudis already operate the Typhoon and they would probably look towards this. The list of failed bids, apart from India grows.

 

[trident2010]

India is the only hope for Rafale for foreseen future. Hope all goes well for Rafale I really like this bird !!

 

[Friei Indien]

dont worry french , u have the the the Indian deal

 

[HAIDER]

Recently Indian babu show reservation for Rafale and basically its still in pending. India still has chance to withdraw.......death of rafale

 

[Luftwaffe]

@nuclearpak, this is third thread with same topic it needs to be closed already 2 threads exists.

 

[airmarshal]

dont worry french , u have the the the Indian deal

But an Indian deal is just 126 fighters. Lets say India opts for 150 more. With a development and research expenditures in billions for a new platform, the French are not likely to recover that cost.

Take the example of F-16 program. Whatever was spent was recovered decades ago as so many nations have opted or it resulting in one of the cheapest, most efficient and profitable platforms of the world.

 

[Manindra]

But an Indian deal is just 126 fighters. Lets say India opts for 150 more. With a development and research expenditures in billions for a new platform, the French are not likely to recover that cost.

Take the example of F-16 program. Whatever was spent was recovered decades ago as so many nations have opted or it resulting in one of the cheapest, most efficient and profitable platforms of the world.

Indian order could grow to 186 to 200 & UAE is also closely monitering this deal.

 

[Friei Indien]

But an Indian deal is just 126 fighters. Lets say India opts for 150 more. With a development and research expenditures in billions for a new platform, the French are not likely to recover that cost.

Take the example of F-16 program. Whatever was spent was recovered decades ago as so many nations have opted or it resulting in one of the cheapest, most efficient and profitable platforms of the world.

your profitable platform didnt even made it to the 2nd round of the Indian MMRCA deal along with f18 superhornet. in 1997 an IAF mig25 deliberately did a sonic boom in pakistani airspace just to mock you and your f16 was not able to intercept it because it go only 56000 m up in the air against 65000 m of mig25. besides, even 126 jets are too much for the Dassault corp. to deliver, they have even stopped supplying french air force to complete Indian order, $10.4 billion deal, do u know how much is that money, its more than twice the foreign exchange reserves of pakistan.

 

[airmarshal]

your profitable platform didnt even made it to the 2nd round of the Indian MMRCA deal along with f18 superhornet. in 1997 an IAF mig25 deliberately did a sonic boom in pakistani airspace just to mock you and your f16 was not able to intercept it because it go only 56000 m up in the air against 65000 m of mig25. besides, even 126 jets are too much for the Dassault corp. to deliver, they have even stopped supplying french air force to complete Indian order, $10.4 billion deal, do u know how much is that money, its more than twice the foreign exchange reserves of pakistan.

Stupid answer. I was not comparing my profitable platform with your chosen one. Just comparing two aircraft.

And if it didn't qualify your idiotic selection process which runs for decades doesn't mean F-16 is not a capable aircraft. If so many nations have chosen F-16 and it did not make your cut, its your problem. F-16 has nothing to prove here.

I m forced to question Indian mindset here. My original post just compared two aircraft, not an India-Pakistan comparison, for god's sake! Read my post again.

 

[Last Samuri]

F16 are nearly 3 decades old. Even the latest version F16/60 is a decade old.

Nevertheless arguably the most successful fighter ever built.

Comparing the F16 sales success with a new platform like Rafale or Gripen or J10 of china is unfair cause these three new fighters have only just arrived. Ask the same question in 2025..

The french will be banking on the indians has their order is potentially 3 or 4 times the size of UAE order or Brazil order of 36 fighters each.

IF french win MMRCA with rafale it will save the whole project. its worth over $20 billion over 10 years.

The indian order is huge by any standards

But the indians maybe getting cold feet too

 

[SrNair]

Brazil dont opt it because they dont need that much high tech ,high power jet.External challenges of India is very tough and different than Brazil.

India already use mirage 2000 and its advanced version.Opting Rafale give so much advantages to India.India also know about French aircrafts.Dassault Rafale another advantages is is own by French only .No other country has no authority in DR.

 

[Luftwaffe]

@nuclearpak, @Aeronaut, where is this thread heading by indians with their indian logic and indian curry planes.

 

[forcetrip]

Its good for the Indians, no other orders means that they will have to work with the indians and give them things they did not originally intend to.

 

[rockstarIN]

Its good for the Indians, no other orders means that they will have to work with the indians and give them things they did not originally intend to.

Honestly, I'm very pessimistic on Rafale deal since we are at 2014, the current government will complete its term on 31st May 2014. Once the election norms are in place it is very difficult to get a go ahead. After election, everything is unpredictable and it is the last chance for French to seal the deal before march 14.